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Best Computer Engineering Schools Near Ames, IA (2026)
Ames, Iowa has 2 accredited schools offering computer engineering programs, with tuition ranging from $10,787 to $29,750 per year for indexed programs. Ames has a population of about 66,112. Median household income is $60,102 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 63.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Ames, IA metro area, the top-earning computer engineering-related role is Software Developer at a median $129,440 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Computer Engineering Schools to Ames
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer computer engineering programs near Ames, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Ames city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa computer engineering page.
Computer Engineering Wages Near Ames
Ames is part of the Ames, IA metro area (BLS area code 11180). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Iowa statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $125,120 | IA statewide | $140,901 |
| Electronics Engineer | $81,330 | IA statewide | $91,588 |
| Software Developer | $129,440 | Ames, IA | $145,766 |
| Computer Network Architect | $102,630 | Ames, IA | $115,574 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Ames at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,112 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,102 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 63.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 88.8 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Ames-Area Cities With Computer Engineering Programs
- Ankeny, IA – 20.6 mi away (58,627 pop)
- Johnston, IA – 24.0 mi away (21,114 pop)
- Urbandale, IA – 27.9 mi away (43,018 pop)
- Des Moines, IA – 31.4 mi away (476,689 pop)
- West Des Moines, IA – 33.6 mi away (64,560 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited computer engineering schools are near Ames, IA?
Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering computer engineering programs near Ames. The closest is Iowa State University in Ames, IA (1.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is William Penn University (70.8 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying computer engineering roles near Ames?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying computer engineering-related roles near Ames are: Software Developer ($129,440), Computer Hardware Engineer ($125,120), Computer Network Architect ($102,630). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Iowa statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Ankeny instead of Ames?
Ankeny, IA is 20.6 miles from Ames and has its own set of local computer engineering programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Ames an affordable place to study computer engineering?
Ames’s median household income of $60,102 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ames while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Iowa public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Computer Engineering Programs
- Is a Computer Engineering degree worth it?
- Main Computer Engineering degree guide
- Online Computer Engineering programs in Iowa
- Computer Engineering programs by state
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Data verified: August 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.